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Toyota reveals TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype [w/video]
Filed under: Coupe, Toyota, Racing

The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. So, apparently, do the world's automakers. At least, that is, when it comes to Le Mans. Case in point: the new Toyota TS030 Hybrid, the Le Mans prototype that the Japanese automaker has just revealed, mere days after Peugeot announced its departure from the endurance racing scene.

Shorthand for the third Toyota Sport prototype - following the TS010 and TS020 that challenged Le Mans in the '90s - the TS030 is the first LMP1 to employ a hybrid drivetrain. (Peugeot was experimenting with a similar system before shutting down its program, and Audi is rumored to be testing one as well, but has yet to announce it to the public.)

Toyota Hybrid System - Racing (THS-R) couples a 3.4-liter V8 to one of two potential electric motor setups: a front-mounted system developed by Aisin AW or a rear-mounted one from Denso. According to regulations, the electric boost can only drive one set of wheels, and Toyota has yet to decide which, although the 500kJ capacitor supplied by Nisshinbo is already a lock.

The carbon fiber chassis, meanwhile, was developed in-house by Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, Germany - the same outfit that ran the company's F1 team and has been looking for a new project ever since. The facility will serve as the team's headquarters as well, from which it will field one car in its debut at the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps - the second round of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship - on May 5. Toyota is planning to field a second car at Le Mans in June, but while the first car's driver roster is already confirmed, the team has yet to decide on its second line-up.

Follow the jump for the full press release and spec sheet, and check out the first batch of official images in the high-res gallery above.
Continue reading Toyota reveals TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype [w/video]
Toyota reveals TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First Toyota FT-86 coupe dyno'd
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Japan, Videos, Toyota

Well, that didn't take long. The First Toyota FT-86 (a.k.a. Scion FR-S) has made its way to the dyno courtesy of the good people at HKS. How'd it do? The vehicle managed to spin the rollers at 170 rear-wheel horsepower, which dovetails with the 200 crank horsepower announced by Toyota and Subaru after calculating a 15-percent driveline loss. Of course, whenever HKS gets involved, you can feel safe betting your lunch money that forced induction won't be far behind. True to form, HKS showed off its handiwork on a drift car version of the new sports coupe from Toyota.

The FT-86 looks more than happy to dance through a few chicanes sideways, and we can't wait to see the vehicle go fender-to-fender with the best of them. Click past the jump to check out the dyno video for yourself.
Continue reading First Toyota FT-86 coupe dyno'd
First Toyota FT-86 coupe dyno'd originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota getting help from Gazoo Racing to bring downsized turbo engines to market
Filed under: China, Europe, Technology, Toyota

According to a report by TheDetroitBureau.com, Toyota is teaming up with Gazoo Razing (full name: Gazoo Racing Masters of Nürburgring) to kickstart development and retail rollout of small-displacement, turbocharged engines. While Toyota is the undisputed leader in hybrid sales, the 274,927 gas-electric vehicles sold in 2011 - that's in total, not just the Prius - still represent a tiny portion of overall sales. By contrast, the EcoBoost-equipped Ford F-150 alone sold 100,000 units last year.

Direct injection and updated transmissions are also said to be developmental hot-buttons for Toyota. The first boosted, DI motors could be seen as soon as next year in Japan, then find their way into products for China and Europe. Outside analysts expect America to be in that pipeline somewhere, eventually, with mooted options for introduction being the next-generation Corolla or, even easier, as an added powertrain option for the new Camry.

The direction is not meant to take away from Toyota's hybrid position and expansion in the U.S., with the company still expected to put hybrids in "for just about everything we offer." Overseas, though, hybrids made the same impression as in the States, which could explain the initial markets chosen for Toyota's new tech.
Toyota getting help from Gazoo Racing to bring downsized turbo engines to market originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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2013 Lexus LX 570 price increased to $81,805*
Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Lexus, Toyota, Luxury

A new Lexus LX 570 is going to set you back nearly $82k after you add $875 delivery to its $80,930 base price. The luxury version of the Toyota Land Cruiser wears a new Lexus spindle grille, one that's big enough to make Rumplestiltskin proud, and it has revised front and rear fascias among the other upgrades that Lexus says justify its 1.9-percent price increase.

Among the other new-for-2013 features are an updated Crawl Control mode and terrain-select for the all-wheel-drive system, because what Lexus owner doesn't enjoy serious rock-crawling? A new multimedia system with the next-generation Lexus Enform system is also part of the deal, which seems much more in line with real-world customer behavior, as Enform allows drivers to use Facebook and Yelp, among other services.

For those LX 570 buyers who just must have it all, there's also a $1,510 luxury package that adds some higher grade trim and features, and a backseat entertainment system for $2,005.

Toyota only sold 3,167 units of the Lexus LX last year, down by about 20 percent.

To read the full release, click past the jump.
Continue reading 2013 Lexus LX 570 price increased to $81,805*
2013 Lexus LX 570 price increased to $81,805* originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Europe, Toyota, Racing

The sudden departure of Peugeot from the Le Mans racing scene came as quite a shock, we know. But don't count the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship - or the famed 24-hour race at its center - out for the count before it's even started, because another powerhouse is already gearing up to take Peugeot's place. And that powerhouse is Toyota.

The Japanese auto giant announced its plans to build and campaign a new LMP1 racer at Le Mans and the WEC back in October. Toyota Motorsport GmbH (which ran the company's F1 team until its withdrawal in 2009) then set about designing the car, partnering with Team Oreca to help with the logistics of entering the pinnacle of endurance racing, and hired three top pilots to, you know, actually drive the thing.

With all those pieces in place, the Toyota team began testing their new prototype racer last week at the Paul Ricard test track in France. Toyota itself didn't release much in the way of details, but Alex Wurz was said to have led the shake-down, with his team-mates Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima on hand to share in the driving duties as well.

And while no "official" photos were "officially" released, Toyota PR rep Scott Brownlee tweeted a couple of snapshots to whet our appetites. The result looks, predictably enough, much like the latest LMP1 racers fielded by Audi and the departed Peugeot, but as with most things, it's what's underneath the surface that will count the most. In Toyota's sake, that would be a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain of some sort, but we'll have to wait a little while longer - as the next round of testing and the car's anticipated debut at Spa come May approach - to find out more.
Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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National Academy of Sciences: Electronic glitches in cars untraceable, more oversight needed
Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology, Toyota

"We couldn't find anything, but we're still blaming the car." That's the gist of the statement from a National Academy of Sciences panel headed by New Jersey Institute of Technology physics professor Louis Lanzerotti. The NAS supports U.S. regulators shutting down investigation of Toyota unintended acceleration incidents without finding electronic faults that would cause the behavior. However, at the same time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning to call for further oversight and more study to attempt to rule out electronic causes.

About the only thing that's concrete is that crashes happened. To be fair, electronic faults can be tricky to pin down, even with far simpler systems than the networked-computing setups that modern cars universally employ. That's why event data recording is already part of many automotive systems, along with a high degree of redundancy and fault tolerance. Many carmakers also already program engine management to douse the throttle with brake application in certain situations. Few are more interested in catching intermittent, potentially catastrophic problems than the companies building the cars, and most have already implemented the systems these organs of the state are calling for. Even so, the NAS and NHTSA appear keen to write these tendencies into law. Read the NAS' press release after the jump.
Continue reading National Academy of Sciences: Electronic glitches in cars untraceable, more oversight needed
National Academy of Sciences: Electronic glitches in cars untraceable, more oversight needed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Autoblog Podcast #265
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Podcasts, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Jeep, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Fiat
2013 Porsche Boxster, Detroit Show Editors' Choice, Chrysler/Fiat looking for a third, Nissan NY debut, VW beats Toyota

Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, Zach and Chris Paukert this week. Topics include the 2013 Porsche Boxster, a discussion of the Editors' Picks from the Detroit Auto Show, a possible third partner for Chrysler and Fiat, a mystery debut in New York for Nissan, and Volkswagen beating Toyota in sales for 2011. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #265:
- VW beats Toyota
- 2013 Porsche Boxster
- Big New York debut for Nissan?
- Marchionne looking for yet another partner?
- Editors' Choice from Detroit
In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2012 Cadillac SRX
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Zach Bowman

Runtime: 01:31:13

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #265
Autoblog Podcast #265 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota Prius camper conversion has us charging for the woods
Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Hatchback, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon, Specialty, Design/Style

Love it or hate it, Toyota has done an impressive job with the Prius. What started as a single model has grown to a whole family, including the versatile new Prius V minivan. But for some even that won't prove enough space, so Japanese conversion outfit Campinn has developed this rather bizarre appendage for the standard Prius hatchback.

Unveiled this weekend at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this conversion turns the current Prius into a camping van of sorts, complete with convertible sofa-bed and overhead sleeping area. It's made of fiber-reinforced plastic and boosts the car's length to 196 inches and its height to 81.1, and comes complete with a skylight and a back door for slipping out un-noticed when people are gathered around the front gawking and laughing at what looks like a hybrid with a tumor.
Toyota Prius camper conversion has us charging for the woods originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #265 LIVE
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Chrysler, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Fiat

We record Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #265
- VW beats Toyota
- 2013 Porsche Boxster
- Big New York debut for Nissan?
- Marchionne looking for yet another partner?
- Editors' Choice from Detroit
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #265 LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Classic Toyota 2000GT turned into solar-powered EV
Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Technology, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon, Electric

Saying the Toyota 2000GT holds a special place in our hearts is akin to calling oxygen and water kind of important to our survival. The long-nose two-door was envisioned as a suitable competitor to the likes of the European sports cars rolling out Italy and the UK at the time, and in many ways, the Toyota was far superior. Built at a time when Japan Inc. wasn't exactly known for beautiful automobile designs, the 2000GT may have been influenced by European cars of its day, but it has stood the test of time as one of the country's all-time design greats. The low-volume coupe is a piece of automotive legend, which is exactly why choosing to use a 2000GT as a platform for an electric conversion strikes us equal parts blasphemous and awesome. But that's exactly what Japan's Crazy Car Project has done.

The engineers behind the exercise ditched the standard 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in favor of a 161-horsepower electric motor. A 35kWh lithium-ion battery provides the system with power, and the hood has been covered with photovoltaic cells to help keep the car going. Likewise, the back glass is covered in a transparent solar panel. All told, the system can propel the vehicle to around 124 mph.

Inside, the 2000GT SEV features a modernized interior with plenty of tech-laden gadgets. The vehicle was built in cooperation with Toyota and debuted at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon. Let's hope they started with a real basket case, eh? Hit the jump to see a video of the car in action.
Continue reading Classic Toyota 2000GT turned into solar-powered EV
Classic Toyota 2000GT turned into solar-powered EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota greenlights iQ Supercharger Concept for production [w/video]
Filed under: Aftermarket, Budget, Performance, Etc., Japan, Videos, Hatchback, Scion, Toyota, Tokyo Auto Salon

Here's a surprise: Toyota has announced the company will produce the iQ Supercharger first unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon in limited quantities. The automaker has confirmed the development at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon. The vehicles will be built by partner Gazoo Racing and will feature a brawnier version of the same 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine found in the standard iQ. With a little forced induction on its side courtesy of a supercharger, the engine should be good for 130 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque. That's an increase of 36 ponies and 44 lb-ft over the stock configuration.

Like the concept, the production model will wear a not-so-subtle widebody kit, stiffer suspension and more aggressive brakes than its standard siblings. A six-speed manual transmission will be the only gearbox option. Indoors, buyers can expect to find custom seats and gauges that read all the way up to 124 mph.

Toyota and Gazoo Racing only plan to produce 100 of the muscle-bound iQ Supercharger models, and there's no indication its Scion cousin sold in the States will receive a similar treatment. What a shame. Hit the jump for a brief introductory video featuring the original concept as well as the full press release.
Continue reading Toyota greenlights iQ Supercharger Concept for production [w/video]
Toyota greenlights iQ Supercharger Concept for production [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota l'eggos updated Aygo
Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Toyota, Misc. Auto Shows, UK

The 2012 Toyota Aygo is here with better looks, better fuel economy and emissions and better equipment. It's the supermini's first serious overhaul since it was introduced in 2005, and it borrows some of its aesthetic chops from the recently unveiled 2012 Yaris. A bulldog-y stance is emphasized with a jutting lower front bumper with a wide trapezoidal opening, while the lines above have been slenderized.

The carryover 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine has been tweaked for efficiency; its 67 horsepower and 69 pound-feet of torque remain the same, but rowing the five-speed manual will now get you 65.7 Imperial (54.7 U.S.) miles per gallon combined. You'll also hear less of it and the transmission due to increased sound deadening.

Trim options will include new hubcaps, seven exterior hues, a new unified finish on the instrument panel, and a new steering wheel backed by paddle shifters. It might look like just another tiny Eurocar, but the previous Aygo still earned the title of The previous Stig's favorite car, and that's a recommendation not to be trifled with. Pricing and other details will follow closer to its on-sale date, for now, there's a press release after the jump with more info.
Continue reading Toyota l'eggos updated Aygo
Toyota l'eggos updated Aygo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Airbag recall forces Honda past Toyota in total recalls for 2012
Filed under: Recalls, Safety, Acura, Honda, Toyota

Honda has surpassed Toyota for the largest number of recalled vehicles in 2011. Wards Auto reports that Honda expanded an airbag recall to encompass a total of 2.5 million million vehicles last year, pushing the total number of recalled units to 3.9 million vehicles over 17 campaigns. Previous estimates put Toyota at the head of the recall pile with 13 campaigns covering 3.5 million vehicles.

The airbag recall covers some of the most popular Honda models, including Civic, Civic Hybrid and Accord sedans manufactured between 2001 and 2004, as well as the CR-V and Pilot. The Acura CL and TL were also included.

Toyota, meanwhile, found itself correcting issues with accelerator pedals and floor mats associated with the company's unintended acceleration woes. Toyota had found itself leading the largest number of recalled vehicles for two consecutive years prior to 2011.
Airbag recall forces Honda past Toyota in total recalls for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota Prius C brings hybrid economy to the masses for under $19,000
Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

C is for Cookie. At least, that's what the baking industry lobbyist known as Cookie Monster would have us believe. At Toyota they have another idea, where C is not for Cookie, it's not for Car and it's not for Compact. In the latest addition to the Prius family, C is for City.

What you're looking at is a new, smaller hybrid from Toyota, which is eagerly growing the Prius range from one four-door to include the Prius V (for Versatility), the Prius plug-in hybrid and this, the Prius C. It's both smaller and more affordable than the existing Prius range, while delivering superlative fuel economy figures. In fact, with a 50-mpg combined rating, the Prius C claims the best economy of any car this side of a plug-in EV.

Motivation is provided by a 1.5-liter four that, together with the electric motor, delivers up to 99 horsepower at peak (compared to the Prius liftback's 134hp). It's also more nimble than its bigger brother, and more affordable: when the Prius C reaches showrooms in the spring, it will wear a sticker price under $19,000. In the meantime, you can check out our gallery of high-resolution images from the show floor above, the stock images below and jump into the press release for more details.
Continue reading Toyota Prius C brings hybrid economy to the masses for under $19,000
Toyota Prius C brings hybrid economy to the masses for under $19,000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota NS4 concept glimpses at Prius of the future
Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Toyota, Electric

Toyota can justifiably be proud of its position not only as one of the largest automakers in the world, but also the world leader in hybrid vehicles. In fact, the Japanese automaker claims that half of all hybrids sold are Toyotas. But it didn't get there by resting on its proverbial laurels, and it isn't going to maintain (let alone increase) its market share by doing so, either. That's where the concept car you see here comes in.

Taking position as something of a Prius of the future, the NS4 concept cuts a striking profile - certainly more striking than the current kamm-tailed Prius. But even though the technologies it encompasses are targeted to reach the market by around 2015, the show-car details - like that eminently dentable front beak -probably won't.

While Toyota works on all manner of electric and fuel cell powertrains, the NS4 packs a similar plug-in hybrid system as the current Prius PHEV. But the show car encompasses a slew of other technologies, like a smartphone-like interface to monitor and control everything from the air conditioning to the battery charge.

Toyota has also packed the NS4 with its latest pre-collision and blind-spot monitoring systems, adaptive headlights and four new types of glass - the one part of the car we probably take most for granted. Of course, this being a concept car, Toyota has also replaced the side mirrors with an around-view camera system, but laws being what they are for now, don't expect to see that in showrooms just yet.

There's plenty more technological details to digest in the press release after the jump, but for a closer look check out the high-res galleries of live shots from the show floor here in Detroit and the stock images from the automaker.
Continue reading Toyota NS4 concept glimpses at Prius of the future
Toyota NS4 concept glimpses at Prius of the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota unveils updated 2013 Land Cruiser
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, SUV, Toyota

For a country that loves (or, at least, loved) sport utility vehicles, the Toyota Land Cruiser has certainly slipped to the back of our minds. It carries one of the most iconic go-anywhere, do-anything nameplates in the industry, and yet in 2011, only 1,662 Land Cruisers were sold here in the United States, making it one of the ten worst-selling vehicles of the year. But since the vehicle's product cycles are largely dictated by other markets where it's more popular, the big Toy continues to carry on, and for the 2013 model year, there are a host of new updates.

Slight visual tweaks to the exterior include the addition of LED running lamps up front, as well as HID low-beam headlamps and a refreshed grille. Aside from that, not much else has changed as far as design goes, and while the Land Cruiser does look a bit old, it's decidedly rugged and handsome.

The Land Cruiser's 5.7-liter V8 is carried over unchanged, still with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque on tap, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Of course, because the Land Cruiser is billed as a true off-road vehicle, driving aids like KDSS (Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System) and Multi-Terrain Select are standard. Inside, the Land Cruiser gets a brand new hard-drive-based navigation system complete with Toyota's new Entune infotainment system.

Toyota has a similar mild refresh in store for the Land Cruiser's luxury twin, the Lexus LX 570, which we'll see at the Detroit Auto Show next week. For the full scoop, read Toyota's official press release after the fold.
Continue reading Toyota unveils updated 2013 Land Cruiser
Toyota unveils updated 2013 Land Cruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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These are your top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2011
Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Crossover, Acura, Cadillac, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Luxury

Where there are winners, there are inevitably losers. Last year was exceedingly kind to big pickups, sprawling family sedans and SUVs, but not every model came out of 2011 with big sales figures. We took the time to dig through the low-selling models of the past 12 months to find out which vehicles produced throughout the year were the biggest duds. Since we aren't interested in how few Lamborghini Aventador models rolled off of dealer lots in the U.S. in 2011, we kept the MSRP under $100,000.

Our criteria immediately nixed vehicles like the Mazda RX-8, Volvo V50, Ram Cargo Van and everything in the Saab stable due to the fact that those models weren't manufactured through all 12 months of 2011. High-end metal like the Mercdes-Benz SL, CL and G classes were also kicked to the curb due to our price ceiling. Which was the worst of them all? We'll give you a hint. It wasn't the Acura ZDX. Hit the jump to check out our list of the worst-selling vehicles of 2011.
Continue reading These are your top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2011
These are your top 10 worst-selling vehicles of 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles for 2011
Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

The figures have been tallied for the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2011, and not surprisingly, the Ford F-Series pickup truck is king of the heap once again. Dealers sold a total of 584,917 F-Series units in 2011, beating out the second-place Chevrolet Silverado by 169,787 units. The Toyota Camry filled out the podium with 308,510 sales, which left the top three unaltered from their 2010 rankings. Fourth place went to the surging Nissan Altima, which jumped from its seventh place position last year. Likewise, the Ford Escape enjoyed a jolt in popularity as well. While the aging CUV took the 13th spot last year, the Ford sold 254,293 units to take fifth place in 2011.

That bumped the Honda Accord and its Crosstour variant to sixth place. Interestingly enough, the Honda duo just barely beat out the Ford Fusion by 5,000 units. Were the two Honda models to be split, the Fusion would have easily knocked the Accord further down the list. Likewise, the Toyota Corolla and Matrix teamed up to edge out the Chevrolet Cruze for ninth and tenth places, respectively. Head over to The Examiner for a full chart detailing the top 20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. for 2011.
These are your top 10 best-selling vehicles for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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70% of Japanese vehicles sold in America are built here, too
Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Honda, Nissan, Toyota

A new study by the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association has found 70 percent of Japanese vehicles sold in the U.S. were built on a North American assembly line.

According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the study found that more than 400,000 jobs have been created by Japanese automakers since Honda opened its first facility in the U.S. in 1982. Honda, Toyota and Nissan had a total of 29 plants operating in the U.S. in 2010 with a combined investment of $34 billion. Those numbers are likely to increase in the coming years.

The Japanese Three have made no secret that the companies are looking to guard their operations against an ever-stronger yen. Odds are we'll see even more Japanese facilities open their doors in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Toyota is slated to open a new line in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Honda is expected to begin assembling the Fit in Mexico soon.

But Toyota, Honda and Nissan aren't just building vehicles in the U.S. for American consumers. Japanese-owned plants here are also producing vehicles for consumption abroad. Last year, a total of 145,000 vehicles were built in the U.S. for foreign markets by Japanese automakers, up from 95,000 units in 2010.
70% of Japanese vehicles sold in America are built here, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota teases NS4 plug-in hybrid concept again
Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota

Toyota has released a quick teaser video for the company's NS4 Plug-In Hybrid Concept ahead of the vehicle's debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Though less than a minute in length, the clip gives us a clear look at the vehicle's badges as well as quick line-drawing outline. Toyota has released few details about the NS4 beyond saying the vehicle will be an "advanced plug-in hybrid." Whether that means the vehicle will boast new battery, engine or motor technology remains to be seen. Odds are the NS4 will be used to display new design language for the entire Toyota hybrid fleet.

The NS4 Plug-In Hybrid Concept will debut next week, along with the company's Prius C; a Yaris-sized hybrid with better fuel economy figures than the current Prius. While the model has received an unveil at the Tokyo Motor Show, we've yet to see the vehicle on American soil. Hit the jump to check out the NS4 Concept teaser video for yourself.
Continue reading Toyota teases NS4 plug-in hybrid concept again
Toyota teases NS4 plug-in hybrid concept again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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